Common causes of childhood anxiety

• Family history of anxiety: Children with parents or close relatives who have anxiety disorders are more likely to develop anxiety themselves. 

• Stress: Significant life changes like moving to a new home, changing schools, witnessing family conflicts, or parental divorce can create stress and  result in anxiety. 

• Trauma: Emotional or physical trauma like toilet accidents, bullying, abuse or neglect, or natural disasters can cause anxiety. 

• Parenting style: Overprotective or anxious parenting styles can cause a child to become anxious.

• Academic challenges: Increasing academic expectations, performance demands, and fear of failure can create significant stress for children.

• Social stressors: Social competition or new social situations (new school or new daycare) can cause anxiety. This is known as social anxiety. 

• Media and technology exposure: Exposure to news, social media, and frightening content can overwhelm children and contribute to anxiety.

• Biological factors: Imbalances in brain chemistry, neurotransmitter differences, and temperamental traits can influence a child's anxiety levels.

Anxiety triggers

Certain situations or experiences can trigger anxiety or anxious thoughts in children, including:

• Separation from parents or caregivers (separation anxiety).

• Social situations like public speaking or making new friends.

• Routine changes and transitions (starting school or a moving to a new home). 

• Academic pressures such as competitions, tests, or quizzes.

• Fear of failure or making mistakes.

• Overwhelming sensory experiences (loud noises, crowded spaces, bright lights, uncomfortable temperatures).

• Health and safety concerns.

• Phobias (scared of darkness or fear of insects). 

Signs of anxiety in children

Every child experiences anxiety differently, but common signs include:

• Excessive worry or fear that seems out of proportion to the situation.

• Physical symptoms such as stomachaches, headaches, rapid heartbeat, sweating, or nausea.

• Restlessness.

• Difficulty sleeping.

• Irritability.

• Emotional outbursts like frequent crying and mood swings.

• Avoidance of certain places or activities.

• Withdrawal from social activities and difficulty making friends.

• Trouble concentrating.

• Repetitive behaviors.

• Excessive need for reassurance (frequently asking "what if" questions).

• Negative self-talk.

• Perfectionism.

• Clinginess.

How to help children cope with anxiety

• Validate your child's anxious feelings.

• Acknowledging their fears or worries without reinforcing them.

• Avoid dismissing or minimizing your child's anxiety.

• Teach calming or coping strategies like breathing, sensory grounding, and progressive muscle relaxation. 

• Establish predictable routines to reduce uncertainty and prepare for transitions (use visual schedules or routine charts).

• Help your child gradually face their fears in a supportive way, like reading picture books about anxious feelings or fears.

• Embrace a healthy lifestyle with adequate sleep, physical activity, a healthy diet, outdoor play, and limit screens.

• Model healthy stress management.

• Seek professional support. 

Completely avoiding anxiety-provoking situations can reinforce fears. Instead, offer gradual exposure and encouragement to help build confidence and coping skills.

Managing childhood anxiety

Managing childhood anxiety often involves a combination of approaches:

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Therapy  to identify and challenge anxious thoughts and learn coping mechanisms.

• Play therapy: Therapy for young children to help express and regulate their emotions through play.

• Parent coaching: Provide strategies to support young children without enabling behaviors.

• School counselors: Provides in-school emotional support and coping tools, especially for social anxiety. 

• Medication: In some cases, medications can help manage anxiety ans anxious feelings in children.

When to see a pediatric mental health expert 

Consider seeking a pediatric mental health expert if your child:

• Struggles with anxiety that interferes with school, sleep, or daily activities.

• If your child experiences persistent worry or fear lasting weeks or months.

• Suffers from frequent headaches, stomachaches, or fatigue.

• Has panic attacks, extreme clinginess, or uncontrollable crying.

• Shows little improvement despite reassurance, coping strategies, or gradual exposure.

If you have questions about your child’s anxiety, reach out to your local or Summer Health pediatrician for support. Summer Health is a pediatric telehealth platform offering 24/7 care, providing answers for everything from urgent concerns to everyday questions about your child’s health.